WATER QUALITY IN

AQUACULTURE
Introduction
Aquaculture and Seafood
Capture from the
oceans is maximized.

Aquaculture is
growing as a source
of the world’s
seafood supply.
Benefits of Aquaculture
Asian fresh seafood market
Ability to bring
fresh, or even
live, seafood
to market at a
specific time
and quantity.

US seafood market
Aquaculture is based on water
The key to the
successful culture of
aquatic organisms is
maintenance of water
quality.

Fish ponds in China Poor water quality =

poor harvest.
Water Quality
• Source
• During culture
• Discharge

“Water quality issues should be taken into account

at every point of the aquaculture cycle.”
Source
From where?

underground

surface
Source
well
reservoir
spring

How much?

irrigation canal

stream
Source pasture
quality
Red tide

unpopulated
forested

underground

populated
Water Quality
Clear water
During culture

Fertile water

Turbid water
Water Quality
Discharge Catfish pond

Shrimp pond
Factors that influence water quality

Water temperature
Fertilization
Feeds
Aeration
Water exchange
Water temperature

=
active

zz
z

= z z
z
inactive
Fertilization

organic inorganic
Feed Marine shrimp
Common carp

Rainbow trout

Channel catfish
Aeration
Aspirator Defused air

Pond aeration paddlewheel

Water exchange
Salmon cages Catfish raceways

Trout raceways
Carp cages
Testing Water Quality
Water quality parameters
often tested are:
Dissolved oxygen
Water temperature
pH
Total Ammonia Nitrogen
Nitrite/Nitrate
Alkalinity/Hardness Water test kit
Salinity
How water quality values are
expressed
Parameter Value
Dissolved oxygen mg/L O2
Water temperature C (Celsius)
pH
Total ammonia nitrogen mg/L N
Nitrite mg/L NO2-
Nitrate mg/L NO3-
Alkalinity/Hardness mg/L CaCO3
Salinity g/L salt
Dissolved oxygen and water
temperature Oxygen meter

dissolved oxygen and water

temperature usually vary
over a 24 hour cycle.
Surface dissolved oxygen, mg/L Surface water temperature, C

15 31

10 29

5 summer 27

0 25

6 a.m. noon 6 p.m. midnight 6 a.m.

Dissolved oxygen and water
temperature
Stratification can cause dissolved oxygen and
temperature to vary at different depths in the
same system.
pH
pH is a measure of acidity (hydrogen
ion concentration) in water or soil.

pH = - log [ H+ ]
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
neutral
acid alkaline
Total Ammonia Nitrogen
Total ammonia nitrogen ( TAN ) is a measure of the
ammonia (NH3) and ammonium levels (NH4+) in the
water

The ratio of ammonia and ammonium varies in an

equilibrium determined by pH and water temperature.
Salinity

Brackish water is 2 g/L to 34 g/L

Freshwater is less than 2 g/L

Sea water is more than 34 g/L

NaCl
 End of Introduction

Good Water Quality = Good Harvest

WATER QUALITY IN
AQUACULTURE
Introduction
Applications
 Classification of aquaculture
systems
• Salinity of culture water.
• Producer/consumer relationship.
• Type of culture unit.
• Species
• Management intensity
 Salinity
• Freshwater has a low
ionic concentration (i.e.
streams, rivers, ponds
and lakes).

• Saltwater has a high

ionic concentration
(ocean waters).

• Brackishwater has an
ionic concentration
between freshwater and
saltwater ( mangroves ).
Producer/consumer relationship

• Commercial
aquaculture

• Subsistence
aquaculture
 Type of culture unit
• Many different culture units are used to
grow aquatic organisms.

• The culture unit selected is based on

economic, space and water concerns.

• The type and size of the culture unit will

determine water quality management.
Type of culture unit:
Earthen Pond

Levee ponds

Reservoir Pond
Type of culture unit: Cage/Pen
Cages in lake
Cages in ocean

Pen
Type of culture unit: Tank
Rectangular tank

Circular tank
Raceway culture

Trout farms using raceways

 Species
• The species cultured will determine
stocking density, water quality
levels desired and the most
appropriate system to use.
Management intensity

Levels of aquaculture management are

closely tied to water quality.

Extensive management – no control of water quality

Semi-intensive management – some control of water

quality

Intensive management – control of water quality

Extensive management

Marine shrimp
Semi-intensive management
Chemical fertilizer

Supplemental feeds

Animal manures
Intensive management
Aeration in ponds
Water exchange in tanks

Nutritionally complete
pelleted feeds
Public perceptions of aquaculture
Water quality Other concerns:
concerns: • Wetland destruction
• Water pollution • Wasteful of
• Salinization resources
• Sedimentation • Biodiversity
• Spread of disease • Land conversion
• Social impacts
 Water quality concerns

Shrimp pond effluent

Cages in Indonesia
in Thailand
End